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Libby Law Photography
Eventer Tim Price has this morning won the CCI5* at Les 5 Etoiles de Pau in France, finishing on his dressage score of 30.9 penalty points aboard Jarillo, and also placing fourth with Happy Boy on 34.3.
Five star competition is the pinnacle of the sport of eventing with just seven in the world.
It is the second time Tim has won at Pau, having won there in 2021 on Falco, and his sixth 5* crown. Tim and Jarillo were always handy.
They were fourth after the dressage, on a score of 26.5, added just time on the cross country and were then all clear in the showjumping.
Happy Boy was ninth after the dressage with a score of 29.1, added time in the cross country and was also clear in the showjumping for a final tally of 34.3. Coming into the showjumping this morning, any one of the top 10 combinations could have won, with the penalties extremely tight.
“With Jarillo, all you have to do is lower your heels and put your legs in and he jumps,” said Tim. Pau was just Jarillo’s third 5* start and third completion.
“When I walked the course I thought it was tough. There were 10 of us within four points of each other. The time allowed was tight, so it was a course for thebest horses and the best riders. That’s what we want!”
Brit Tom Jackson was second aboard Plot Twist B, having scampered up the leaderboard from 31st after the dressage to finish on 33.2, with Boyd Martin (USA) aboard Cooley Nutcracker third on 33.9. Jonelle Price and Senor Crocodillo rounded out the top 10 on 39.2 after adding time penalties in the final phase this morning.
Jonelle was 18th with Grappa Nera, who won the Pau 5* in 2022, on 47.5. Jesse Campbell and Cooley Lafitte were 20th on 49 with Tim and Global Quest 25th on 63.7.
Abigail Long with Henton Audacious and Jonelle with Hiarado both withdrew from the final horse inspection before the showjumping.
Just 39 of the original 53 starters completed the event.
The cross country saw two retirements and eight eliminations, with two other combinations retired from the second horse inspection.